dreamcrystals | [02] three lies, one truth

Entry tags:

[02] three lies, one truth

Sender: Susato Mikotoba
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive dream recording
Warning: Descriptions of death (specifically: falling/burning, stabbing, freezing, drowning) and the crippling fear that comes with that.

When Susato is first seen, she is nigh unrecognizable. There's only a glimpse of her. Her hair is frazzled, long well past her shoulders, and the white dress she wears, accented by pinks, does not match the grim darkness of the cage she is in. Seconds later, there's a loud metallic clang as the cage is shut.

There's movement like a shaky camera, and you... no, Susato is looking into the eyes of one man who looks almost surprised to see her. As if he hadn't been the one to put her there.

"Mr Vigil?"

The voice is small and cracks like glass over the flames below.

Before he can respond, there's the sound of a lever and a deafening scream as a feeling of terrifying weightlessness takes over your body.

You're falling, and you don't know when you'll stop.

* * * * *
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

When the dream spits you out, you can taste a mixture of blood and dirt as you blink your eyes open. They sting like you've been crying, and when you bring your filthy hands up to look at them, you can see the pink of your kimono sleeves. The loops in your air feel looser and messier than usual as you can feel the terrifying glare of a man before you, bleeding and in chains, and yet no less threatening.

All around you are corpses. You just barely manage to struggle to your feet when he moves to strike you down with alarming quickness, his blade and scythe at his call. Something hard and sharp pierces your stomach as his voice booms:

"You will not tarnish... my brother's memory...!"

You were so close. You can see some of the broken chains you worked so hard at; he was almost free.

But it's too late.

A laughter seems to be coming from the noble in the portrait behind the Reaper, and an eerie red glow bleeds out from the canvas as your consciousness fades.

* * * * *

The laughter transforms into something else, another voice. It is almost pleasant; and the scene is entirely different now. A gorgeous ballroom surrounds you with an air of celebration, you are humbled, taking the man before you in a dance. Here is the face that everyone says you can trust, and yet you can hear suspicious whispers coming from the walls.

Something is wrong.

You feel cold in a way that is inexplicable. Your very core is frozen, and it feels like you will never get warm. suddenly it's a struggle just to move with the music; but eventually you stop listening to that, too.

"Don't struggle." The king pulls you close in what is most certainly a threatening manner. Beneath your gloves, your fingers have already become ice. "Your death is inevitable now. Accept it with grace, and don't scream."

But even if you wanted to, you can't.

Pathetic gurgles escape your throat as ice travels up your chest and your neck. A piece of your white hair falls across your face, but when you go to brush it away, your hands won't move. Nothing will.

There is stillness. For a moment, you have hope, because you can still move your terrified, wide eyes, but soon that too is gone.

* * * * *
In that moment, you're not able to look at anything else.

Your neck is craned upwards and suddenly, the dream has shifted one final time. You're staring at the surface of the freezing cold water from below, unable to breathe, but the Gods above have mercy on you, and it doesn't last long. A glaring white starts to creep into the corners of your vision, filling everything in haze, and the dream ends as suddenly as it began.

* * * * *

[ Back in the comparative comforts of her home, Susato awakes with a start. She gasps for breath like she's just been held underwater, sitting up and gripping at her blankets. For all she knows, they are her lifeline. She is shaking, the faded memories of dreamscapes past rushing back to her, and she feels her arm knock something off the bed she's on.

......All she can do is breathe. ]

(( ooc: tl;dr, just a fun throwback to the fun deaths i've been able to put her through this past year. <3 please assume delayed responses where appropriate/etc. ))

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[It's not often he looks at anyone's dreams, but an inadvertent glance and recognizing—or rather, barely recognizing Susato makes him stop and watch it all. With each scene his frown deepens, but it's not until the very last one, the view of being submerged under freezing cold water that his heart stills and his body stiffens.

It's not as obvious, but he knows. He knows. Knows that he's the reason for that last vision.

He's not certain...if she went through the other three. But if she dreamed of that then perhaps she did. And he'll push away that terrible night away from his mind and focus on what's more important.]

Susato

[Except here his words fail him for a moment. The obvious thing to ask is if she's all right, but he knows countless others will ask and he knows the answer: obviously not. There is also...

...

There is also...the question if she would even want to hear something from him.

His hand tightens over the quill as the sounds of that night slowly creep in once more, and the ink will appear a bit dryer on her name before he manages to push it aside and continue with more force.]

Would you like to see Rhonwhen? I'll send her over.

[ ......Ah.

Somehow, Susato is a little sad when she first sees the message. Does he not want to see her...? Yet the more she thinks about it, the more it makes sense, and she can find no fault in it. She shouldn't want anyone to see her like this, but it is still a kind offer coming from the heart—even if it does take an extra moment for her to respond.

In that moment, she manages to convince herself to be just a little bit selfish. ]

Will you come with her?

[He's not surprised Susato didn't answer immediately, actually taking the time to find Rhonwhen. He remembers well when his own dream had gone through the crystals and the amount of time he needed before he felt he could even look at the waiting messages. However, there had been a little worry, a little doubt that she would respond at all... It's dumb, he knows. Susato isn't like that. But he wouldn't have blamed her for needing more time before speaking with him.

So when she does respond with her question, his breath catches in his throat for a moment before he feels Rhonwhen gently boop his hand. Gently patting her head he stares at the words a little longer.]

Is that what you really want?

[As much as he wanted to just say, "Yes"... He had to ask, those doubts and guilt resurfacing.]

We are friends, are we not? Surely your marriage hasn't changed that.

[ has it?

Last year, she might have questioned it, but she can say that with some confidence now. It's a good question, though, and one that she has to give some thought to. She really doesn't know what she wants right now. Perhaps something teeth-rottingly sweet. ]

Perhaps it would be wiser to meet you both elsewhere, though. [ It would give her some time to get herself together and also avoid riling up ~~the zoo~~ all the animals downstairs. ]

[He really shouldn't be harboring these doubts anymore, but that's the thing about doubts and guilt. They can "go away" for a way for a while, but they're always still there, ready to rear up their ugly heads at the slightest reminder. He also feels like it shouldn't be such a huge relief to see her reaffirming their friendship...but it is. Enough to finally allow himself to relax and get a better hold of himself.

Susato doesn't need him wavering now, and his answer is more immediate.]

Of course.

Is there a particular place you'd like to meet?

[ The response from Eustace comes more quickly, interrupting a yawn and the accompanying stretch. Susato truthfully hadn't thought that far ahead. Perhaps it doesn't really matter where they meet, though she thinks vaguely that it should probably be somewhere meaningful.

...

...... ]

Your favorite place in Reverein. [ As gorgeous as some of the Wildlands are, she's not going to go that far in the dark and cold. ]

[Favorite place...]

The dog park might be too busy... What about the Riverside? There's a quiet area on the southern side.

Unless you'd prefer somewhere indoors.

[ Too busy? ...Well, some strays do make their home there. Now that he mentions it, Susato would rather not disturb them. She will make a mental note to visit the park another day, however, to check on them. ]

The riverside sounds perfect.

[ . . .

Which means she has to get up. ]

Thank you. Give me about thirty minutes.

We'll meet you there.

[And only after informing Tifa of what's going does he and Rhonwhen leave to the designated spot. It can be rather bustling with the new businesses that keep opening up alongside it, but it's a littler quieter due to the season. The section he picked out doesn't have any businesses, just a few piers for various fishermen and boatmen to dock their small boats to use along the river. There's a small embankment that doesn't have much around it except for a few benches and a picnic table, and with the weather...strangely warming, there's not as much snow around.

Whenever Susato arrives, Rhonwhen will notice her first and barks, butt wiggling a bit as she runs over to help guide Susato to the bench Eustace had picked out, waiting.]

[ ...She thinks about doing the same for Kazuma, but it is rare to see him sleeping so peacefully. Seeing how this was obviously recorded, then can obviously talk about it later. There's quiet sigh, almost in apology, as she gives him a light peck on the cheek; and then she has to quickly get herself together, because she doesn't want to be “late.”

And speaking of late—what time even is it? The fishermen sure do get a very early start... Before she can stop and make small talk with them, however, Rhonwhen comes bounding up to her. ]

Rhonnie... [ She laughs as Rhonwhen jumps up onto her hind legs, and bends down to give her a hug. This doesn't last long, however, as she seems eager to lead her to the bench.

When they approach Eustace, he will see Susato taking off her purple shawl that she'd grabbed out of habit, expecting it to be cold. Rhonwhen's tail is still wagging, as if to say, “I found her!” ]

[Hearing the commotion, he turns to watch them, a faint, amused smile on his lips as he waits. And when she gets closer, he slides over a bit to give her space.]

Here. ...I'd say I've kept it warm for you, but I suppose it's not needed.

[With the strange warm temperatures and all. He'll also gesture to a basket that's next to him. Even with it closed, the soft, sweet smell of cookies wafts through.]

These are also from Tifa. She expresses her own concerns for you.

[ Susato watches Eustace make room for her, and the way he smiles. There's a tentative glance at the basket as well, though she really did not come to meet him expecting any gifts. She is far too focused on folding the shawl so that it'd be easier to carry, and also not tripping over Rhonwhen when the corgi closes the distance between herself and Eustace.

She takes the seat, careful not to smush the basket or the cookies within. Is the basket making it feel even warmer...? ]

What's this? It smells delicious.

[ She carefully lifts a bit of the cloth obscuring the contents, and immediately she recognizes them as cookies. Her mouth hangs open slightly in surprises. ]

She... You didn't have to bring these for me.

[He watches Susato with a soft look before he smiles a little more.]

No, but we wanted to, so enjoy them.

[Plus Susato has always brought things for them—only fitting they return the favor.]

[ Hmm. It truly is hard to argue with that. Feeling that they are still warm, Susato reaches into the basket without much thought. She even closes her eyes to savor the flavor, but when she opens it again, she is greeted with the sight of Rhonwhen, who's sat her butt down ever patiently, tail still wagging.

Her ears twitch, and she looks hopefully at Eustace as well. ]

Mm, peanut butter...

[ She comments idly, perhaps teasing her a bit. She was prepared to offer to share to begin with, but she can't resist. ]

But aren't you on a diet?

[Rhowhen lets out a short bark and whine as she straightens up and looks up at them with biiiig pleeeeeading eyes.

......]

Only if Susato allows it. And only one.

[ With the permission she was waiting for, Susato wastes no time in picking out a special cookie (read: the biggest), just for Rhonwhen, and she waves it around a bit to mimic an airplane before she gives it to her. ]

Your reward. No trick needed.

[ She smiles, and watches crumbs fly out of Rhonwhen's mouth as she eats. ]

...Thank you, by the way. [ For the cookies. For coming. ]

[He watches as Rhonwhen happily takes the cookie and eat before glancing at Susato.]

Of course.

[For both.

And now... Now he is a bit silent, as he decides to let Susato lead whatever this conversation this is. If there even is one. His main priority was seeing how she is, and at least she seems to be all right...at least, for the most part. He'd rather not push and just let her take her time or whatever she needs.]

[ The relative silence doesn't seem to bother Susato, broken only by Rhonwhen's panting once her treat is done. She already looks eager for another, but for now, she behaves, lying down at their feet with another light whine. Perhaps she's waiting for crumbs to fall.

Susato pops another piece of cookie in her mouth, leaving her silent for a while longer; but despite how comforting this all is, she naturally doesn't remain silent forever. ]

I have good dreams too, you know. [ In her mind, perhaps she's talking to her journal. But with Eustace still there, she'll continue: ] ...It would be lovely if some of those were shared every once and a while instead.

Mm... They do seem to tend to show emotionally heavy dreams more often than not.

[The one dream he's had appear...it started good. But then...]

...Did anything lead to your dream? Anything happen?

[He hadn't want to pry too much, but...he is concerned regardless.]

[ Susato leans forward to stroke Rhonwhen's head, and she can feel her tail brushing against her leg with every swish. Susato glances at him with curiosity, however, noting the concern that seems to have crept into his voice, whether he intended it or not. ]

Hm? Oh... No, nothing... nothing like that.

[ Though now she wonders. The day she had seemed like any other, blending in with the last. ]

At least, I don't think so. I do wonder if I could have handled things better, though.

Handled things?

...Yes.

[ Tempted to leave it at that. But no, she supposes she should talk about this with someone who isn't Kazuma, or the involved party himself. ]

Last year, around this time, almost... Did you see the bleeding hearts, Eustace?

[He stiffens at the mention of those things, and there's a brief look of discomfort before he sighs.]

Rather than see them, I was a victim of one.

[ Technically, she was, too. She notes the discomfort, and maybe she should take that as a sign to back off this topic, but it's not that easy once she's already started. ]

I see.

Well... There was someone I tried to help. Another victim, a friend. He was the Lord you saw in my dream, with the scar on his face.

[ Maybe Eustace has seen him around. ]

His feelings became so twisted that he fell into a deep sleep, and the tree in which he lived became an entire fortress made of ice, with him trapped inside.

sender: Eustace

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